My Favorite Things

I was tagged by sweet Regina from Live Delightfully to tell about my favorite things. She has a wonderful blog that is fun and inspiring so be sure to hop in and say Hi. I'm not really good at this sort of thing but I will give it a go...

My Favorite Hobby

I enjoy a good deal...so I enjoy going to garage sales, antique stores, thrift stores, estate sales with my friends. My friend Cassie is an antiques dealer so we are always on the look out for unique items. I'm always laughing with my friend Carolyn because she is the master of getting a good price when I'm too chicken to ask for it.

My Favorite Shoes

They have to be my Nike flip flops. These are major comfortable and easy breezy. I don't get dressed up to go to my studio so flip flops work great for me. However, when I do have to be presentable I like my Mary Janes.

My Favorite Site 

This is easy...it's Pinterest. I am on Pinterest everyday. That site just makes me happy! I have found wonderful artists, DIY tips, crafts and yummy food recipes. Basically, anything you're into, you can find it there. 

My Favorite Food

My husband's food is just the best! Whenever he gets into the kitchen and starts making something we all know it's going to be wonderful. He makes the best from-scratch chicken and dumplings.

My Favorite Show

Hands down my favorite TV show is IT Crowd on BBC. I LOVE that show and it's SO funny.

My Favorite Day Of The Week

I don't really have one. I think they are all kinda good. However, if I had to choose one I would choose Tuesday. Jason has a crazy work schedule so we set this day aside to spend together.

My Favorite Music

I love Ingrid Michaelson's music....swoon.

Is that it? Did I do it? Hmm... that wasn't so bad. Ha!

Happy Monday

Happy Memorial Day! 

mixed media

acrylic, paper, dye ink

Just Perfect!

I don't know why but I "need" one of these!

How wonderful is this? I found it on Flickr by inspieco (her stitching is just magical).

I Love Books

Yep, I'm a big fan of books. I have a friend that has been trying to sell me on getting a Kindle. I can't explain it but I like the feel of the actual book in my hands. Turning the pages, dog-earring them and using a fun book marker. Oh, and when you're all done putting it neatly in the bookcase as your little accomplishment. My friends have asked me about some of my books and it's fun to loan them out and discuss them. 

Have you ever read a book that changed how you look at life? How you acted? Treated your family? I have...and I'm so thankful for the ability to read, learn and change. 

Book Walls

Here is for all the book lovers out there!

 

Bijou Living

Bookshelf Porn

cee_jay

Ron Arad

Home Library Design

 

 Design Happens

wallpaper swoon...

Anthropologie

Masquepen Masking Fluid and Ranger Inks

Masking fluid is just one of those funky artist products I like to use. However, (I think) the outcome can sometimes be unpredictable. If you don't know what the heck I'm talking about, in a nutshell, masking fluid is a "liquid tape" that you brush on your artwork in areas you don't want painted.

 

Here is an example of what it I'm talking about. You can tell in some cases I'm not a perfectionist because I just slopped the mask all over the place. The white part is a flower stencil that I put masking fluid on. When it's dry it will feel like rubber and you can just rub it off. I use my finger or you can use a rubber cement pick-up (mine is the Pro Art brand).

Ok, here is the tricky part. I use a lot of vintage book, music and dictionary pages in my work. I hate to say the word "can't" but you kinda "can't" use masking fluid on those papers. They are just too delicate and when you go to rub it off it will take the paper with it. 

It's best to use it with heavy weight watercolor paper or illustration board. Another quick tip: your paint, ink, whatever you use will not dry on top of the mask so make sure to clean it off with a Q-tip or towel before you start rubbing it off. 

FYI: in the artwork above I used Ranger inks. They are cool beans because they are transparent but still vibrant.

Ship In A Bottle

Here is some new artwork I recently finished up. I did it using most of my paper scraps from my huge pile (seriously... huge pile).

9x12

paper

I cut the brown paper around the edges kinda loosey goosey and didn't really worry about making the outline perfect. You can really see that on  the sails. My youngest was looking at this and told me, "Ships are made to explore Mom". Score...he totally gets it!

Postcrossing Latest

I received a postcard from Taiwan the other day. It took 84 days to get to me and traveled 13,055 km (that little piece of paper was doing some traveling). It was from a student named Phoebe in the southern part of Taiwan. 

 this is the front of the postcard

look at her cute giraffe sticker 

Lean more about Postcrossing here.